Forty Steps Dance to Audition Modern Dancers Tomorrow Morning in Nahant

Forty Steps Dance of Nahant is holding an audition Saturday morning for dancers with a strong dance background.

The company, directed by Sallee Slagle, is now in its 20th year of delighting audiences with works that hearken back to modern dance’s roots. A graduate of the Boston Conservatory, Sallee was heavily influenced by Doris Humphrey and Jose Limon.

Over the years, Forty Steps Dance has tapped the talents of dozens of dancers who honed their skills at colleges and universities including (most recently) Emerson, Columbia, Williams, Vassar and Salem State. The dance company regularly performs in Cambridge, Newburyport, Rockport and Nahant.

As a choreographer, Sallee is excited to focus on the company’s performance, rather than her own, as her role transitions from dancer to cultural ambassador. Dance appreciation appears to be at a high, with reality TV shows ranging from “Dance Moms” to “So You Think You Can Dance” populating the airwaves. Every little town in America has a dance studio and an annual recital, but Forty Steps Dance brings a different aspect to the stage, with an amazing level of technique, artistry and commitment. Sallee is the ‘real deal!’

Forty Steps Dance is “fiscally sponsored,” meaning that patrons can contribute to its continued existence through the Boston Dance Alliance website. The company held its first fund-raiser in the Spring, but the reality is the dancers all have a day job. Sallee is working to ensure the company’s longevity by moving toward 501C3 status as a charitable organization. For more information about the audition and to gaze at some beautiful photos, check out the website at http://www.fortystepsdance.org.